If the Klan robes are revealing our sordid history, what’s the problem with historical reenactment?
Updated at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday with comments from the Anti-Defamation League.
Updated at 1:29 p.m. Tuesday with news on civil rights meeting today.
Without knowing the exact context of the school assignment, it is hard for me to get worked up over the four Lumpkin County students wearing Klan costumes. If the purpose of the class assignment was to show how cowardly, hateful and pathetic the Klan was, then I have no objections to the historic reenactment. I want students to see what guises hate has taken historically so they can recognize it today.
I would have asked the principal beforehand and likely sent a note home to parents, but all that may have happened in this case. It is not surprising that the sight of students in white robes would be startling, but I would want to see the finished product and whether it contributed to students learning about this dreadful part of American history.
A history teacher in Dahlonega was placed on administrative leave Monday after she let four students wear Ku Klux Klan outfits in a historical reenactment. Catherine Ariemma, a five-year veteran with the Lumpkin County school system, teaches an advanced placement history class at Lumpkin County High.
Her students were filming reenactments of various historical periods last week, and four donned Klan outfits, superintendent Dewey Moye told the AJC.
Students from other classrooms saw them as they walked through a hallway while wearing the costumes to an outdoor shoot, he said, adding that the parents of an African-American child later complained about it.
She said she continues to stand behind the video project and the lesson it was to convey to her students.
“This project was about racism in U.S. history,” Ariemma said. “Not just racism against African Americans, but racism as a whole.”
She said including the Ku Klux Klan was an essential piece.
“You cannot discuss racism without discussing the Klan,” she said. “To do so would be to condone their actions.”
She admitted that she may have made a mistake by letting the students film the Klan reenactment on campus.
“I feel terrible that I have students who feel threatened because of something from my class,” Ariemma told the AJC. “In hindsight, I wouldn’t have had them film that part at school.”
Ariemma is an award-winning teaching. Last year, the Georgia Senate passed a resolution lauding her “dedication to her students and her profession” after she was honored as Lumpkin County High School’s 2009 STAR Teacher. The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition program is sponsored by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators and recognizes teaching excellence.
Moye said Ariemma has never been reprimanded for missteps and that she has always been an “outstanding” teacher. But he said he could not ignore this incident.
She could lose her job over it.
The Anti-Defamation League weighed in Tuesday with this statement:
The Anti-Defamation League, today said that Lumpkin County School Administrators acted appropriately in ordering administrative leave for a teacher who allowed students to parade in Ku Klux Klan costumes in the school. The teacher, Catherine Ariemma, acknowledges now that it was a mistake to allow her students to walk through school in the Klan attire. “But,” said ADL Southeast Regional Director Bill Nigut, “unfortunately she should have known better than to allow it.”
“Some students tell us they were offended, others say they were frightened when confronted with fellow students dressed in Klan garb, one of the most toxic symbols of racism and religious bigotry in American history.” After a conversation with Lumpkin County Superintendent, Dewey Moye, Nigut said he was pleased that school officials recognize the seriousness of the incident. “We understand the teacher involved has had a stellar career but the school had no choice but to condemn her decision in this matter.”
And now there is a release about a meeting between Lumpkin school officials and civil rights activists Tuesday afternoon:
Civil and human rights leader Rev. Markel Hutchins has called a meeting today at 4:00 pm with Lumpkin County Schools Superintendent Dewey Moye, Sheriff Stacy Jarrard, County Commission Chairman Dr. John Radar, Dahlonega Mayor Gary McCollough and other officials to discuss the recent high-profile, racially tense incident of students wearing KKK attire at Lumpkin County High School in Dahlonega, a small city in North Georgia. The leaders will meet at the Lumpkin County School System and will emerge at approximately 5:00 pm to address the media.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
361 comments Add your comment
Keep on , we'll leave
May 25th, 2010
9:11 am
This is just another reason to go to private school and
home school. Go ahead and fire that teacher, we’ll be glad to hire her. Once again, you’ll be wondering why you’re left behind. But don’t worry, at least you won’t
be offended.
Eric
May 25th, 2010
9:14 am
@V for Vendetta
Eric,
I agree, but remember, it is an AP class. These students are expected to perform and be treated like college students. Would you send home a letter to college students’ parents? I think not. If they can’t handle being treated as adults, then perhaps they shouldn’t take the class.
That maybe true but what about the other students who were “NOT” in the AP Class and was effected by this. I understand what goes on in AP classes (meaning in the class rooms). But when you go outside the walls and may effect other you need to properly notify others that aren’t associate with the class or project! Point blank. There is no sugar coating the situation. If a police officer would of came on campus and saw this, it could of became a very ugly situation.
Scariest comment I've read yet
May 25th, 2010
9:18 am
Educator2
May 24th, 2010
10:02 pm
“The responses in support of this teacher and her “lesson” is a sad reflection of society and some people’s ability to rationalize the irrational acts of others for the sake of “history” or otherwise.”
May I suggest that as an educator you consider the famous words of George Santayana:
“Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Eric
May 25th, 2010
9:20 am
@V for Vendetta
Perfect example to answer your question. Say the class was doing a project on the Columbine School Shooting. And 4 students came dressed in the trench coats with play guns. Would that not need consent and notification? Who is that any thing different? Basically its common sense.
Learn the facts first
May 25th, 2010
9:20 am
@ Eric,
The article stated that the teacher specifically escorted the students out of the classroom due to them having the costumes on. The problem was that she forgot lunch was being served, so there would be many students instead of almost none. Don’t forget that due to overcrowding from underfunding, many schools are forced to start serving lunch well before 11am, so they can get everyone fed before school gets out.
SBinF
May 25th, 2010
9:21 am
This teacher showed EXTREMELY poor judgment. Given the sensitive nature of her assignment, she should have availed administrators AND parents, in writing, of her plans. No one’s making a big deal about the Klan outfits, it’s the teacher’s lack of forethought that is troubling. The mere fact that she couldn’t have anticipated there maybe be people who would be alarmed makes me question her methods. I’m speaking as a social studies teacher in my opinion.
Proud Ariemma Student!
May 25th, 2010
9:22 am
@nabe “How interesting that you feel obliged to target the black Cody Rider with innuendos and character besmirching descriptors while defending your teacher from the same.”
I am not one to target Cody Rider because is black. Even if he had been white I would have the same things to say. His personality has nothing to do with his race.
The fact is that because just I am southern does not mean I have become comfortable with racist comments. It is uncalled for and extremely hurtful but in this situation that was not the case.
donebananas
May 25th, 2010
9:26 am
Hoookay…some of the people posting (most, it seems) are ignoring several important facts. My understanding of the situation is the students were NOT “marching through the school” or “re-enacting Klan activities” — they were walking FROM the classroom to ANOTHER part of the school (presumably an unoccupied part) to film additional footage for their group project. The costumes were difficult to remove, so the teacher allowed them to stay in costume (mistake, undoubtedly) while they went to their destination.
The STUDENTS were responsible for the project idea, costuming, etc. They were creating a video project about racism (not just the Klan, from what I understand). The teacher did not suggest or provide the outfits. She did not parade them through the school as some type of ‘re-enactment’.
Did she make an error in judgement? Definitely. Should there be consequences? Yes — but to fire so obviously talented a teacher would be a greater mistake and tragedy. She could have had the student’s remove the costumes, told them to film after school or at another location, or notified administration about what they were going to do. Hindsight is 20/20 — you can bet she will never make that mistake again.
Although I cannot truly understand the impact of seeing 4 ‘Klansmen’ walking through the halls in my school, it is easy to imagine it must have been unexpected, shocking, and distressing on many levels. As a caucasian, I have to accept that I cannot tell anyone of another race how to feel about what happened. In this case, the teacher seems sincerely apologetic, the intent of the project was clearly to identify the problems and tragedy of racism, and a consequence resulting from poor judgement is being considered. What else needs to be done?
Proud Ariemma Student!
May 25th, 2010
9:26 am
*just because
GimmeABreakAlready
May 25th, 2010
9:26 am
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
- George Santayana
So what we are saying here is…we cannot reenact historical events as a teaching tool because it may offend individuals? In my humble opinion, I cannot think of a better teaching tool than reenactment as it puts history in the face of the students and draws out the real emotions which can lead to great discussion and thinking. We need to open the minds of our youth as opposed to trying to suppress critical thinking.
If we as a whole could open our minds and learn about the past – we can get past offenses our ancestors may have committed (slavery). I cannot help what my ancestors did a hundred years ago, just as you (collectively) cannot control what your ancestors did.
As my quote above eludes to…if we cannot learn, discuss, free ourselves from history, we are going to repeat it. OPEN YOUR MINDS!
In these times, we need to come together and act as one and get over the past. I get extremely upset when individuals like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson start spewing racism and the past and how “the black man is being held down”. While I admit, there are still racist among us, I feel that is the minority and in many cases, blacks are trying to live in the past. Let’s fast forward to present day, open ALL of our minds and come together to support each other.
While I am sure this post may offend some close minded individuals, the intent is to plead for people to think for themselves, open their minds and come together.
“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
Eric
May 25th, 2010
9:28 am
@Carol P
Well Said! I have nothing wrong with the project just notify the appropriate people to help not cause alarm.
Eric
May 25th, 2010
9:32 am
Learn the facts first
You simply don’t get it. I don’t care if nobody was in the lunch room. There still is a chance someone passing class seeing this. It maybe history but it still goes on to this day! You still have people dressing up in white robes to this day. Notify someone! When you assume you make an ass out of you! Im sure you’ve heard that before. Like i said before please use common sense.
Proud Black Man
May 25th, 2010
9:37 am
A classic example of not being able to see the forest for the trees in the way. I’m finished.
Cammi317
May 25th, 2010
9:41 am
I am African American and I have nothing against the reenactment. HOWEVER, I do believe that it should have been announced to the student body that this reenactment was going to take place and it would have alleviated the “shock factor” and reactions.
George Santayana
May 25th, 2010
9:42 am
“Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Gram
May 25th, 2010
9:42 am
This is history…and no matter how hard you try to, you cannot CHANGE history. It’s not like they were looking to lynch someone…it was to show the history behind the KKK. Quit taking everything so personally. It wasn’t meant to hurt anyone. It was meant as a teaching aid.
Teach
May 25th, 2010
9:43 am
Did this really hamper other students learning? Were there there African-American students hiding in the classrooms afraid to go into the hallway because they had seen these costumes? If the teacher was doing a piece on a Black Panthers demonstration would we have gotten the same reaction?
Yes the teacher should have used judgment, ran the idea by the principal or the dept head, or even said if you want to do this you need to film it off of school ground. but should this person really lose their job over trying to be a good teacher? absolutely not
Ric
May 25th, 2010
9:50 am
Its’ HISTORY! Grow up and accept it. Stop trying to change it! Like it or not! Would the wearing of BURKAS be okay?
David
May 25th, 2010
9:51 am
To not discuss the reality of the Klan in American History is like the Germans denying that the Holocost ever happened. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t right, but it happened and history cannot be changed. Learn about it, learn from it so it doesn’t happen again
Ric
May 25th, 2010
9:54 am
This should be more SHOCKING than a KKK reenactment!
Global markets tumbled Tuesday, with Korean stocks falling after a group said Kim Jong-il ordered the North Korean military to be ready for combat. Political tensions between North and South Korea have risen since a team of international investigators concluded that Pyongyang was to blame for the deadly sinking of a South Korean naval warship in March. The Nikkei Stock Average dropped 3.1% in Tokyo and the Kospi lost 2.75% in Seoul.
angryindahlonega
May 25th, 2010
9:56 am
I agree with proud ariemma student. Cody and his Mom overreacted to the simple act of students walking by a lunchroom. Maybe they need 15 minutes of fame, but Lumpkin County does not. This is a over-reaction to a Apush class project that has been used for years without conflict. Let’s see all the class projects from these smart students. Then let’s see what Cody can produce alone with his and his Mom’s smarts.
Bad Karma
May 25th, 2010
9:56 am
The planning and communication was not so good, but the teacher did evoke a response and that is proof then and there of what a white sheet and a cone head will do.These kids never experienced the presence of a Klansmen. Enough of the rightous indidnation, intolerance is responding to everything we do not like. Let it go, let the teacher do her job and stop all the mellow drama as it does not appear to be a situation to intentionally hurt anyone. Let’s deal with the real issues. This is not one of them.
Learn the facts first
May 25th, 2010
9:59 am
@ Eric,
You are right. I don’t get your logic. She escorted the students from one area of the school to another so she would be present to explain the situation to someone if the need arose. We have no idea why they were needing to go to another part of the school or whether this move through the school was even expected so she could have notified someone in advance. You are assuming things about this situation as well.
Also, “I don’t care if nobody” is a double negative. It should be, “I don’t care if anybody.” Using proper grammar may help people to take your arguments more seriously.
Joe
May 25th, 2010
10:10 am
MOST HUMANS ARE VERMIN
KKK Mentality
May 25th, 2010
10:13 am
The teacher needs to be FIRED. Period!
Saul Good
May 25th, 2010
10:18 am
The “fact” is… the KKK is still alive and well in both Lumpkin and Dawson Counties (as well as many other No. GA Counties)… I’ve even seen literature from them taped up to soda machines outside of the Kroger in Dawsonville…condemning the “Jew” owners of MTV (errr…REALLY?) that have programming showing African Americans (they used the “N” word) “mixing with our pure white daughters”… so YES this type of behavior in North Georgia needs to be addressed and stomped out once and for all. Trust me…there are children of Klan members who attend that school… they need to be taught how WRONG it is to tolerate racial, religious, and sexual divisions.
get over yourself
May 25th, 2010
10:18 am
four all tha gramer nit-piking winers, pleese get ovur yourselfs. this hear is a blog not tha hervard law reevyiew. And yes I can spell, just didn’t feel like it so save your corrections for your kids homework!
Vernie31
May 25th, 2010
10:22 am
This was plain ole southern TERRORISM in its simplest form. This was a staged event planned by the teacher and with full support and authorization by the parents of these students to carefully and with malice to frighten and threaten all Minorities in the surrounding area and across this country. The students were used as a cover to provide plausible denial if challenged. Most will say there is no harm with a wink and a smile. However, we must remind this group of the population that this type of despicable behavior will never be tolerated ever again not in our communities and certainly not in
our schools. Time has come for us to see the gathering storm and prepare for a long hot summer of our discontent. This Principal should be fired as well for not managing this offensive decision by this rogue teacher. Demand this action for your children.
Saul Good
May 25th, 2010
10:22 am
Just look at this:
http://www.ajc.com/news/north-fulton/alpharetta-votes-down-islamic-534477.html
If this was a MEGA church wanting to expand to 100,000 sq. ft….it would have been approved. Look how many mega churches there are on both small and large roads in and around No. Fulton… this too is racism showing it’s ugly head. A board made up of “only white, christian” members voted. Sad how much intolerance and hate towards others still subsides in the South. I truly hope the attorney representing them is successful.
Tweets that mention If the Klan robes are revealing our sordid history, what’s the problem with historical reenactment? | Get Schooled -- Topsy.com
May 25th, 2010
10:25 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by MONISE SEWARD, Maureen Downey. Maureen Downey said: If the Klan robes are revealing our sordid history, what’s the problem? http://bit.ly/cvsB6d [...]
angryindahlonega
May 25th, 2010
10:25 am
The project was about racism. Not white vs. black. It included all forms of racism. My daughter was part of the project and she is part Japanese. It is also difficult to learn about what was done to to the Japanese-Americans in WWII, but a necessary lesson. They were born and raised in America, worked hard, even had southern accents;
Cody needs to speak out about his misrepresentation of the events; apologise to the teacher and Lumpkin county.
John
May 25th, 2010
10:26 am
This whole assignment was to show the evils of racism. The teacher and the students did nothing wrong. The principal who disciplined this teacher needs to be out of a job for showing his ignorance. Those who opposed this assignment are the ones who need to grow up, realize that this was designed to teach the very thing that they want taught, i.e., the evils and wrongs of racism, and need to realize that the teacher was putting into practice the very things students must learn so we won’t go back to those times. Anybody who thinks this is wrong is shopwing their ignorance.
V for Vendetta
May 25th, 2010
10:26 am
Eric and Cammi,
I would argue that a widespread notification would have caused more harm than good. I think she did the right thing by acting as an escort to the class. I seriously doubt any of these precious, delicate high school students actually thought the KKK was marching through their school.
Seriously, how much do we want to protect our “little angels” from? American has some F-ed up stuff in her past–so do many other countries (ahem, Germany?). We shouldn’t cover it up; we should LEARN FROM IT. Isn’t there a saying about people who don’t learn from History . . . ?
I stand by my argument that this is a big, old mountain being made out of a molehill.
Mum
May 25th, 2010
10:28 am
Let’s not jump on this teacher until we know ALL the details. I can see that the teacher dropped the ball by not informing parents ahead of time, but I can’t say that she should lose her job for trying to to reach her students in a way that they understand, plus she did it in school. I’d have a problem if she HAD filmed it away from school because that would look like she was truly hiding something. Heavens, kids today aren’t as innocent and delicate as many parents seem to think they are.
The problem with some of the comments here is that we all know some things can’t be fully understood by just repeating words, but by experience it. Talk to someone who went to Dialogue in the Dark. I believe that anyone who grows up in a white society can pretty much understand what it feels like to be white, but you cannot understand what it feels like to be black, latino, asian, because your appearance identifies you, so you have to look the part to feel the part.
I had a teacher who lived through WWII, and although we read about it, it all came to life when he described to us what it was like to actually hide from and fight the Nazi’s, what he saw when they liberated Auchwitz, etc., you have no idea how real it all became to us and made us want to know more. There are many black kids out there who have no idea what horror their grandparents went through, many white people who don’t want to remember what their grandparents did, but it all happened not so long ago, and there are those out there who want to celebrate that time, so why not show what it really was like. You forget that these people are still out there, younger, but they’re still there, Nazi’s and KKK. Kids today are innoculated from the truth of history, and we are going steadily down the road of repitition, because we don’t want to take the time to confront our past.
V for Vendetta
May 25th, 2010
10:28 am
Vernie,
You’re obviously a moron, and I don’t use that term lightly.
Saul,
It’s nice to have another person who values reason, logic, and individual rights on this blog. Please stick around.
Proud White Man
May 25th, 2010
10:32 am
No comment here. Except that if you consider my name racist, is my black counterpart’s name also?
Batgirl
May 25th, 2010
10:33 am
Many of you make really good points, mostly about the need to let others know about the project, but I am really concerned that people are so offended by a teacher leading a group through the school building. I can’t believe that students would think that a teacher with Mrs. Ariemma’s reputation would be associated with actual klan members. If kids can’t handle something as benign as this, how would they handle the horror of the real KKK, Nazis, Khmer Rouge, etc.?
Maureen, I am really sorry that you have to read stuff that is even more offensive than what some posters that you allow through say. I think I would be sick.
T.C
May 25th, 2010
10:33 am
When you talk about the kkk,its more than just history of hatred you have blacks that died(murdered)because of there skin color.Also you have familys who love ones was apart of that death tole.When you loose a love one that was murdered from hatred ect…everytime history(murder)presents itself,sad,anger ect..resurface.its easy to go along with something you have not esperienced as a person or a race and think its nothing.The question ???? is why do you not let the school as a whole(school officials,students)know about the filming and do it anyway? could it be it would have been shut down or you(Catherine ariemma)just didn’t care? if it was just history a black student could have been under one of those white sheets being a part of the project.Why not? people would not have known who was under the sheet anyway if they were just posing as the klan.
Saul Good
May 25th, 2010
10:33 am
Bad Karma… no… these kids in Lumpkin County HAVE been exposed to the Klan… they are alive and well here in Lumpkin County and they post literature all around. If I’ve found it…trust me…so have they.
DB
May 25th, 2010
10:34 am
@Eric:
Why would any reasonable person assume that a lynch mob was after them if they saw four giggling kids wearing sheets and escorted by a teacher?
It’s hysterical, dramatic overreactions like this that trivialize the real issues in race relations. Cry “wolf!” too many times, and after a while, people just stop listening.
tman
May 25th, 2010
10:36 am
we as African Americans are always whining about this kind of thing. the Klan is obselete, we need to be protesting the sinceless crimes that plague our neighborhoods that our youth are perpetrating on each other. Our youth who have total disregard for others, walking around with their pants sagging and listening to the empty messages that rap music is sending and with no interest in an education. I saw no harm in what this teacher did, this is part of our history weather we like it or not. accept it.
DB
May 25th, 2010
10:38 am
@Vernie: You forgot your meds this morning — your persecution complex is rearing its ugly head. Come back when your meds have kicked in.
Saul Good
May 25th, 2010
10:38 am
Proud White Man…it depends upon your “actions” and NOT your name. If you put black people into a “box” and simply sum them up as all being the same…if you feel you are “better” compared to them BECAUSE you’re white…there lies the problem. Same goes for intolerance of Muslims, Hispanics, Jews, and all others that are minorities.
So…it comes down to this…do you feel you are “better” then them as a “Proud White Man” and being born white? Do you feel “better” being born a christian compared to Muslims?
Dan
May 25th, 2010
10:41 am
Political correctness itself has become as racist and divisive as any other american social phenomemom. This should be a non-issue, the moronic complaints about it simply perpetuate the problems. Next thing you know Al and Jesse (talk about racists) will be here mugging for the cameras
come on now
May 25th, 2010
10:42 am
i mean we are talking Lumpkin county here, has anyone been there. back woods po-dunk, peckerwood, slap ya mama, kiss my grits location in the nation. guess you would have to throw in fanin and dawson in their somewhere;
i think i heard somewhere that dawson and lumpkin will not even play each other in sports; something to do with to much white trash at the same location and they are afraid a tornado will show up.
Saul Good
May 25th, 2010
10:45 am
tman…. I live in Lumpkin County…and NO…the Klan is ALIVE AND WELL up here. Same goes for Dawson County, Raburn County (home of the Klan leader of GA), Habersham County, White County (i wonder who came up with THAT name?), Pickens County, Union County, and many of the other counties up here.
Need proof?
http://www.adl.org/racist_skinheads/skinhead_map.asp
Click on GA for the names of “some” of the active groups in GA…
Saul Good
May 25th, 2010
10:50 am
tman… here ya go!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99q1vY91hpw
KLAN member from GA. Do you live on another planet? To even THINK that the KKK does not exist in GA would leave me to believe so.
So PLEASE take it BACK… and “admit” that the Klan is alive and well in GA.
Thanks!
Batgirl
May 25th, 2010
10:50 am
This teacher with a great reputation was leading a group through the school. Surely, no one really thought that she would be associated with actual klansmen. If there are kids who can’t handle this, how will they ever handle such horrors in the real world. There are plenty of people who as children were actually the recipients of violence by the KKK, Nazis, Khmer Rouge, etc. While I hope no one ever has to experience such horrors again, I suspect we might, and I wonder how our dainty little children who have never been offended or had their feelings hurt will fare.
Maureen, I am truly sorry that you have to read comments more offensive than some of those you allow to be published.
Kirkwell
May 25th, 2010
10:51 am
I am in the history class in which this happened, and I can state confidently none of our class is racist. We were just attempting to create a film about racism, and some people overreacted before it could be stated what was going on. None of the reporters are obtaining our side of the story; we never wanted the event to escalate this way. I am frightened for our class and our teacher, who is the best teacher I have ever had. She does not deserve any of this bad publicity. And those of you who think she should be fired are horribly mistaken and do not have an accurate picture of this occurance. The fact that we wanted to portray the horror of racism should not have been taken this way. “Diversity training”? The people who are persecuting my teacher need diversity training. We will be heartbroken if she is fired. She is the best teacher at this school, and she cares so much about our education.
Proud White Man
May 25th, 2010
10:52 am
You extrapolated all that without any evidence. Prejudice works both ways. Who says where I was born? There are many whites native to Africa (South Africa, Zimbabwe). Who says I am Christian? There are many white Jews and Muslims (Balkans).
My only point is that “Proud Black Man” has every right to be proud of his heritage. As should I (which was never described) without being labeled as racist off the bat.
It is the double-standard I object to. However I admit this blog is not necessarily the one that this argument should be attached to (as it may infer an acceptance of the KKK which I do not).